Sorry mum, I have to admit, I almost got arrested this week after deciding to go and meet Dame Judi Dench. 

I try to arrange as many interviews in advance but on occasion I hear about things last minute.  

So when I got a call to say Dame Judi was at the beautiful Dumfries House for a signing and chat at Boswell Book Festival on Friday, I thought I’d chance my arm and see if I could get her afterwards.

Read more: Bev Lyons: Nashville stars bring sunshine with them for fun Hydro night

I had on my trendy River Island ripped jeans but unbeknown to me, guests had been advised their attire should be semi formal with ladies wearing skirts or dresses so I got a few unsavoury looks as the select crowd came out from the event. 

Glasgow Times:

I was told Dame Judi was having a three course dinner in the big house so I waited with a couple of fans outside as the midges stared eating my face and it got darker and darker. 

By ten o clock I thought we should give up, and got so bored I began trying to recite ‘Dame Judi Dench’ ten times (its like a tongue twister if you do it quickly) but I got a lift from a friend who refused to budge until we met her. 

Read more: Bev Lyons: Nashville stars bring sunshine with them for fun Hydro night

We set up camp in the empty book tent remaining ever optimistic until one of the exiting diners told us she’d already left through the back door. 

All of a sudden there was a flurry of lights which turned out to be a police car... and as the officers got out we realised they were heading towards us. 

After a polite exchange, they hinted that we should leave the grounds, which, of course, we did hastily. 

Read more: Bev Lyons: Nashville stars bring sunshine with them for fun Hydro night

It turns out Prince Charles was in residence and had invited Judi for dinner with some other VIPs. 

Unbeknown to us, he and his secret security had been eyeing us from the window... 

Oops. I felt a right Charlie. 

__

Dame Judi did however reveal the next day at the book fest that she loved Scotland and had fond memories of filming her first feature film in Scotland for Mrs Brown with Billy Connolly. 

She said: “It was marvellous shooting in the Highlands. In the film, people saw me wearing so many different black dresses, layers and layers of black.

"In fact, I just had one dress the one black dress to wear throughout the whole filming process! I had lots of different collars, lace and such like switched round my neck to make 'the dress’  appear different throughout the film. 

"In a few scenes it was pouring with rain, it was freezing, my dress was absolutely soaking, so heavy but we just all had to get on with it! I loved it.

She added: “I’d ridden a horse before, yes I can ride, but I’d never ridden side-saddle until the film! This was a new experience for me. When I got onto the horse he just set off with me on his back, and immediately started farting - and wouldn’t stop.

"It was hilarious - there’s a shot of us riding off into the distance, luckily no-body seeing the shot could hear what was really happening!”

Judi also said she ate eleven boiled eggs in a row in bed during retakes when she was filming Victoria and Abdul. 

She admitted, that unlike the horse, there were no bad side effects. The 82 year old actress also told the intimate audience that her favourite role was Cleopatra in the National Theatre Production with Anthony Hopkins because so many other actresses were vying for it.   

Despite her many screen appearances Dame Judi also revealed she hates watching herself. 

She said: "I’ll tell you, I absolutely hate watching myself on film. It is absolute agony! One always thinks: ‘I could have approached that in a different way, or done that so much better -  but by then of course it’s too late!  Agony.

"Theatre is simply so wonderful! because you can finish a performance, then think about it, what worked? what didn’t and then - well change it the next time.

"That is one of the most marvellous things about theatre. It is so very special."

JUDY Murray was also a guest at the Bookfest in Dumfries House.

She was also chuffed to be staying in the onsite lodges of the estate which boasts a huge original collection of bespoke Thomas Chippendale furniture.

Judy told her followers on Twitter she was most impressed with the toilets in the place.

They were so old they carried the name of the man who invented the humble look-  the original Thomas Crapper.

She wrote: “When u stay at a beautiful but very old house and discover that the toilet was manufactured by The Venerable Thomas Crapper & Company. Tremendous.”

Glad she flushed first before posting up the picture.